Page 40 - Central America
P. 40
ROATAN MARINE PARK face increases every day. We are focusing on engaging diverse com-
The Roatan Marine Park (RMP) is a grass roots, community-based, munity stakeholders to aid in developing solutions that can ensure
non-profit organization located on the island of Roatan, 50 kilometers long-term, sustainable management of our natural resources.
off the mainland coast of Honduras. The organization was formed in REGULATIONS FOR THE
January 2005 when a group of concerned dive operators and local SANDY BAY- WEST END MARINE RESERVE
businesses united in an effort to protect Roatan’s fragile coral reefs. •Wastes are not to be disposed of within a three mile distance of the
Initially, it was our goal to run a patrol program within the Sandy Bay- Marine Reserve.
West End Marine Reserve (SBWEMR), to prevent over exploitation •Plastics are totally prohibited.
through unsustainable fishing practices. Over time, we expanded the •Vessels that do not possess a holding tank are not allowed to have
scope of our environmental efforts through the addition of other pro- occupants live on board while within the marine reserve.
grams encompassing the entire island. At present, the RMP, together •All vessels that operate in the marine reserve must have a logbook.
with the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), co-manages •Harpooning of fish is illegal.
the Reserve, which is a nationally recognised marine protected area •Divers are not permitted to use gloves.
located along the northwest coast of Roatan. A Memorandum of •It is not permitted to touch, stand on, take or remove marine organ-
Agreement was signed with the ICF (National Institute of Conser- isms which are alive or dead, including: soft or hard shelled snails,
vation and Forestry Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife) to conchs, fish or any other forms of life.
allow the RMP to be a co-manager of the Reserve. The ICF is the gov- •It is not permitted to throw garbage into the ocean or on the beaches.
ernmental institution responsible for the administration of all Hon- •Cutting down of mangroves is prohibited.
duran protected areas. •Only one diving vessel with its group of divers is permitted to moor
The RMP runs a broad range of activities to protect Roatan’s natural re- at a buoy at a time and to dive there.
sources, including patrols and infrastructure, education, conservation •No diving vessel should monopolize a diving site.
and public awareness. We attend government enforced environmental •The following sports are not permitted in West Bay: water-skiing,
damage inspections and provide environmental impact assessments jet-skiing and other similar. Within the Marine Reserve, boats should
(EIAs) on sites of proposed developments on the island. We have also maintain a cautious speed. Also, boats are not to drop anchor or tie up
assisted in establishing the first-ever plastic bottle recycling program beyond the extension of the dock.
on the island, introduced a “Bags for Life” campaign (which promotes
the use of re-usable shopping bags), and have been instrumental in
setting up community empowerment initiatives through supporting
the creation of the Water Taxis Association and the Fisherman’s Alli-
ance. With a rapidly developing island, the number of challenges we
